David Laurance Harris

On February 4, 2018, God lovingly wrapped his arms around David L. Harris and peacefully took him home. David, 95, was born in Galveston, Texas on January 26, 1923 to parents Frank and Carrie Harris. He was preceded in death by his wife Justine, son John Stephen, grandson David Harris III, sons-in-law John Fisher and Ty Gorham, brother Clifford Harris and sisters Agnes Hancock, Laura Mae Giles and Frances Haislip. He is survived by his children David Harris Jr. and wife Locinda, Mary Ann Gorham, Frances Fisher, Joan Johnston and husband Tom, Marty Foster and husband Tim, Therese Kotara and husband Ken, 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, brothers Richard Harris and Kenneth Harris and sisters Maude Nastos and Barbara White. David was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a sweet and gentle soul who will be dearly missed. We will forever remember his kind heart, humble good nature, spontaneous singing and incredible sense of humor. We will treasure and carry the love for "Papa" in our hearts forever. David's love of airplanes and flying began as a child and continued throughout his life. He worked for North American Aviation in Dallas prior to entering the Army Air Corps where he worked on various aircraft and was trained as a gunner. After military service he worked for several private aircraft companies before retiring from Continental Airlines at age 80. In 2003 he was awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, an honor awarded to only 2500 recipients by the US Federal Aviation Administration. This award recognizes exceptional lifetime accomplishments of aviation mechanics with at least 50 years experience. Visitation is 11 am to 2 pm Saturday, February 17th at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery. Funeral service will be at 2 pm followed by interment and a reception. Pallbearers are Ken Kotara, Robert Fisher, Scott Monnat, Devin Harris, John Franklin and Eric Hausler. Contributions can be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Harris family.